King Solomon’s Week 7 NFL picks

The Raiders are so intent on making a playoff run (Oakland, Detroit, and of course Houston, are the only teams not to make the playoffs since the Texans joined the league) that after Jason Campbell’s likely season-ending injury they gave up a first-round draft pick and a conditional first-rounder for Carson Palmer.

If you wonder why many black NFL players believe there is a double-standard when it comes to media coverage, note how Palmer’s act has been given a pass by the majority of NFL media.

Excusing his fake retirement to force a trade? Forgiving his not-so-stellar play the last few years on his not getting enough support from the organization? Acting as if his quitting on his team is somehow acceptable? Claiming he took a $5-million pay cut to play for Oakland. (If he was retired, his salary was $0, so how could he be taking a pay cut?)

NFL media look a little weak on this one.

I’m not saying it is a race issue, but the first time a black player does what Palmer did to force his way out of town and gets little to no criticism will be the first time. So it’s not surprise that black players point out the inconsistency.

And while we’re on the subject, an NFL player texted me this week and asked, “Do you think if a black player had cursed his coach, told him to go (blank) himself, that it would be washed over so easily as the Jay Cutler incident on Monday Night Football has been?”

My answer was the same as the one to those people coming up to me asking about whether Matt Leinart should play.

Houston plus-3 at Tennessee: This could be an interesting game. The Texans are getting dissed, and deservedly so, from all corners. Facing a team coming off a bye week on the road for the second week in a row isn’t an easy task. But do you have any doubt that the Texans are more talented than the Titans? This should be a game that Houston goes to work. Tennessee has played above its head, but should come back to earth with Wade Phillips’ defense getting after Matt Hasselbeck like no team has this season. Chris Johnson is subject to break a run or a swing pass for a long play – not much the Texans can do about that, because he is simply a terrible matchup – but as long as Houston pressures Hasselbeck it should control the Titans’ offense. Matt Schaub is ready for a breakout game. He should get it against the Titans. Look for a 25-of-31, 280-yard day. I will not be surprised if the Texans win this game by two touchdowns. Of course, as consistently disappointing as they have been over the years, it wouldn’t surprise me if they lost by two touchdowns either. I am going with my gut on this one, based on conversations with a couple of players this week. I expect a focused, spirited effort, heck, perhaps even a solid start-to-finish four-quarter effort. Easy money for the Texans this week. … Texans 33-20.

The ultimate Texans fan about to board flight to Nashville for Titans game